Combined latch and lock mechanism

ABSTRACT

A COMBINED LATCH AND LOCK MECHANISM FOR LUGGAGE AND THE LIKE, INCLUDING A CUP MEMBER TO BE MOUNTED ON THE UNDERSIDE OF A LUGGAGE WALL UNDER AN APERTURE TO DEFINE A WELL ALIGNED WITH THE APERTURE AND A LATCHING MEMBER IN THE WELL HINGED AT ONE END OF THE CUP MEMBER AND HAVING A FRONT SURFACE WHICH IS SUBSTANTIALLY FLUSH WITH THE EXTERIOR PLANE OF THE LUGGAGE WALL IN LATCHING POSITION. THE LATCHING MEMBER HAS TOP AND BOTTOM FLANGES DEFINING KEEPER APERTURES AND TONGUES INWARDLY ADJACENT KEEPER SLOTS IN UPPER AND LOWER WALLS OF THE CUP MEMBER TO INTERLOCK WITH A KEEPER LOOP WHICH ENTERS EITHER OF THE KEEPER SLOTS. A SPRING IS STRESSED BY THE KEEPER LOOP WHEN ENTERING INTO LATCHING POSITION TO AUTOMATICALLY EJECT THE KEEPER UPON RELEASE OF THE KEEPER LOOP.

Jan. 26, 1971 w. E. ATKINSON 5 COMBINED LATCH AND LOCK MECHANISMFiled'April 25, 1969 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVI'IN'I'OR. WALL ACE E- ATKlNSONHTTONEYS Jan. 26, 1971 w. E- ATKINSON COMBINED LATCH AND LOCK MECHANISM2 Sheets-Sheet a Filed April 25, 1969 ilgA QINYVILVN'IOR. WALLACE E.A-rmnson A -r TOIZNEYJ United States Patent US. Cl. 292-228 14 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A combined latch and lock mechanism forluggage and the like, including a cup member to be mounted on theunderside of a luggage wall under an aperture to define a well alignedwith the aperture and a latching member in the well hinged at one end tothe cup member and having a front surface which is substantially flushwith the exterior plane of the luggage wall in latching position. Thelatching member has top and bottom flanges defining keeper apertures andtongues inwardly adjacent keeper slots in upper and lower walls of thecup member to interlock with a keeper loop which enters either of thekeeper slots. A spring is stressed by the keeper loop when entering intolatching position to automatically eject the keeper upon release of thekeeper loop.

BACKGROUND AND OBI ECT S OF THE INVENTION The present invention relatesin general to a combined latch and lock structure especially adapted forapplication to containers or receptacles having separable parts to bereleasably secured in closed position, and more particularly to acombined latch and lock structure for valance type or conventionalluggage cases having a cover section hinged to a body section, whereinthe latching and locking components of the mechanism are located inpivoted member located in a well member aflixed to the underside of thevalance base wall or the underside of a wall of the luggage case withthe front wall of the the pivoted member disposed to normally liesubstantially flush with the exterior surface of the valance base wallor the external surface of the luggage wall.

It has been the usual practice for many years in the design andconstruction of combined latch and lock mechanisms for luggage cases andthe like to provide a spring biased bolt on one of these luggagesections which is urged into latching relation with a keeper on theother separable luggage section whenever the sections are moved to aclosed relationship. If a movable fingerpiece of some sort were providedin such prior devices to permit the operator to overcome the spring biasand release the latch, it usually constituted a projection or extensionfrom the lock body or casing, which was subject to damage from strikingother objects or to catching on other objects and being accidentallyoperated, and which also disrupts the continuity and aestheticappearance of the casmg.

Recently, it has become very popular in the luggage industry to providea channel-shaped extrusion at the line of separation between the luggagesections, or adjacent this line of separation, commonly referred to as avalance, producing an outwardly opening channel or groove extendingentirely around the luggage into which the lock mechanism, andfrequently the hinge mechanism and handle supports, are mounted so thatthey are either flush with the surface of the case or nearly so. Such avalance type construction involves the use of a rather expensive valanceextrusion to provide the channel strip, and introduces complexities intothe manufacture of the luggage because of the need to incorporate thevalance strip therein with the outer edge of the valance stripsubstantially flush with the adjacent surface of the luggage.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a novel latch andlock structure which may be assembled with luggage in such a way thatthe outer surface of a pivoted actuator member carrying the latch andlock mechanism lies substantially flush with the exterior surface of avalance base wall or a wall of the luggage case and is manually pressedinwardly to release the latch.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a combinedlatch and lock structure having a pivoted actuator member mounted in arectangular well or cup member fixed on the underside of a valance wallor other luggage case wall with the front surface of the actuator memberlying substantially flush with said wall.

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of a novelcombined latch and lock structure of the above defined type, which issimple and compact in construction, attractive in appearance andreliable in operation, and which is capable of manufacture in aneconomical manner.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of anovel latch and lock structure of the above defined type mounted in awell or cup and recessed into the surface of a luggage case, wherein thelatch and lock body is of the hinged body type without requiring the useof a hinge pin and which is associated with the well or cup member insuch manner as to avoid an unsightly gap at the juncture of the pivotedlatch body and the well or cup member.

Other objects, advantages and capabilities of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawing illustrating a preferredembodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES FIG. 1 is a perspective view of acombined latch and lock mechanism constructed in accordance with thepresent invention, shown in position on a valance wall of a luggagecase;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the components of the latchand lock mechanism;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section view, to enlarged scale, of the latchand lock mechanism and associated well member shown in closed or latchedcondition and taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a vertical section view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;and

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the well member and latch bodyportions of another embodiment of the latch and lock structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawing,wherein like reference characters designate corresponding partsthroughout the several figures, the combined latch and lock structure ofthe present invention is indicated generally by the reference character10 and comprises a latch section 11, which may, for example, be mountedon the base wall or flange 12a of a valance strip 12 on a tray or bodyportion 13 of the luggage case, adapted to co-act with a keeper 14 whichmay be mounted on the separable cover section 15 of the luggage case.Such latch section and keeper may be mounted on the front wall of theirrespective receptacle sections, as shown in FIG. 1, adjacent the planeof separation between the receptacle body and cover.

The latch section 11 comprises a well or cup member 16 of generallyrectangular configuration, stamped, for example, from sheet metal, andhaving its major dimension extending horizontally on the front wall ofthe case. The well or cup member 16 has a well portion 17, of generallyrectangular configuration, mounted on the underside or interior surfaceof the valance wall 12a aligned with the opening 12b therein. The well17 has a rearwardly projecting, central keeper well portion 19 and isbounded by a central base wall portion 20, laterally flanking base wallportions 21, 21a and parallel top and bottom walls 22 and 23 extendingperpendicular to the base walls and 21. Parallel end walls 24, 24wextend from the base wall portions 21, 21a to the outermost surface ofthe Well member 16, and transition end walls 25 extend from the basewall 20 to the base wall portions 21, 21a. The marginal portions of thecup member 16 on all sides thereof extend outwardly beyond thewellforming walls and define an integral rectangular frame 26 which isdesigned to butt against the interior surface of the valance wall 12aand define mounting and locating flanges to be disposed flush againstthis interior surface. Both the top and bottom walls 22, 23 in thecentral well portion 19 have elongated keeper slots 22, 23 toaccommodate passage of the loop formation 14 on the end of keeper 14into the well portion 19.

Partially recessed within the well 17 and defined by the cup member 16is a generally rectangular latch body or actuator member 27 having asubstantially planar outer wall 27' forming the front wall thereof andinwardly projecting upper and lower flanges 28 along the longitudinaledges of the latch body 27 to define an inwardly opening channel-shapedstructure. The spacing between the flanges 28 is substantially the sameas the spacing between the top and bottom well bounding walls 22, 23 andthe longitudinal dimension of the latch body 27 is substantially thesame as the major dimension of the well 17.

One longitudinal end of the latch body 27, which is the left hand end asviewed in FIG. 2, has a pivot forming lug 29a bent outwardly frim theend wall 29 thereof, which projects into an accommodating slot 30 in theend wall 24 of the well member 16 to define a pivot axis adjacent theend wall 29 about which the latch body 27 can pivot inwardly into thewell 17. The lug 29a and slot 30 are so located as to dispose the frontwall 27 substantially flush with the exterior surface of the valancewall 12a when the latch body 27 is in normal latching position.Alternatively, the top and bottom flanges 29 may be provided withinwardly projecting apertured ears adjacent the end wall 29 to receive ahinge pin or rivet projecting through aligned holes in the top andbottom walls 22, 23, to form this hinge or pivot for the latch body 27.

The top and bottom flanges 28 of the latch body 27 also have a rearwardor inward excursion 31 defining a rearwardly extending loop formation inthe region thereof registering with the central well portion 19, havingan open center region and each having integral, forwardly projectingduplicate latch tongues 31a adapted to project into the keeper loop 14'extending through either of keeper slots 22, 23, depending upon theorientation of the latch as a right hand or left hand latch relative tothe luggage case handle. The rearmost edge portions of the excursions 31project rearwardly through slots 32 in the wall portion 20, and includea stop shoulder 31b which abuts the portion of wall portion 25 at theedge of slot 32 nearest the end wall 24a to limit forward or outwardmovement of the latch body 27. Spaced inwardly from the front wall 27'of the latch body 27 is a back plate 34 having a tongue 35 extendinginto a slot in the end wall 29' of latch body 27. The opposite end 34aof back plate 34 is forwardly offset to bear against the rear surface offront plate 27'. Between the back plate 34 and front plate 27' is a boltmember 36 having a shaped key aperture 37 therein and a rearwardlyinclined flexible end portion terminating in a rounded bead 38 insliding engagement with the back plate 34. This flexibly deformable endportion of the bolt 36 co-acts with a detent projection 3-9 in the backplate 34 to tend to locate the bolt 36 at "a locking position when thebead 38 is between the detent projection 39 and the shoulder formed bythe offset end portion 34a, and to locate the bolt 36 at an unlockingposition when the bead 38 is immediately to the right of the detentprojection 39' as viewed in FIG. 2. The bolt 36 has an inwardly orrearwardly projecting extension 40 which is aligned with a slot 41 inthe rear wall portion 21a when the bolt is in unlocking position, andwhich is displaced from alignment with this slot 41 in the lockingposition so that the rearmost end of the extension 40 is positioned toabut the rear wall portion 21a and prevent inward pivotal movement ofthe latch body 27 to the unlatching position.

The shaped key aperture 37 and the bolt 36 is appropriately aligned withthe key opening 42 in the front plate 27 and the circular key opening 43in the back plate 34. The offset end portion 34a of the back plate 34 isconveniently maintained in abutment with the rear surface of the frontplate 27 by a generally U-shaped spring 44 adjacent the pivoted end ofthe latch body 27, disposed between the front wall 27 and the rear wallportion 21 with the end of one leg thereof inwardly abutting the offsetend portion 34a. This spring 44 also serves as the biasing spring forresiliently urging the latch body 27 outwardly to the normal latchingposition illustrated in FIG. 3. A second spring 45, which may be aU-shaped spring or may have a generally cylindrical center portion andtwo divergent legs as illustrated in FIG. 2., is also providedrearwardly adjacent the rear plate 34, having its curved center portionextending around and located by a rearwardly bent lug 46 of the backplate 34 with the ends of its divergent legs resiliently urged againstthe confronting surface portions of the inward escutcheons 31 of the topand bottom flanges 28. This disposes the legs of the spring 45 in thepath of the convex leading end portion of the keeper loop 14' so thatthe leg of the spring 45 nearest the slot 22, 23', which the keeper loopenters will be flexed downwardly when the keeper loop reaches fullyinserted position wherein its slot 14a receives one of the latch tongues31a. By this arrangement, when the latch body 27 is manually shiftedinwardly about its pivot axis to the unlatching position releasing thelatch tongue 31a from the slot 14a of the keeper loop 14', the inwardlyflexed leg of the spring 45 bearing against the convex leading edge ofthe keeper loop 14 resiliently ejects the keeper loop from the slot 22,23', in which it was inserted and thus automatically swings the luggagecase section to which the keeper is attached to a partially openedposition. The latch and lock structure is arranged to effect automaticclosing as well as automatic opening, so the inclined surface of thewedge-shaped leading edge of the keeper loop 14' facing the tongues 31aco-acts with the confronting surface portions of the tongues 31a, suchas the downwardly curving shape of the upper tongue 31a as viewed inFIG. 4, to cam the latch body 27 inwardly during insertion of the keeperloop into the slot 22' or 23 to permit passage of the loop 14' tolatched position wherein the tongue 31a enters the keeper loop aperture.

A slightly modified construction for the well member and latch body areillustrated in FIG. 5, wherein the portions corresponding to portions ofthe preceding embodiment are indicated by the same reference charactersas used in the description of the first embodiment. In this modifiedembodiment, the rearward or inward escutcheons of the top and bottomflanges 2 8 of the latch body 27 merely form a rearwardly extending loop31 supporting the latch tongues 31a but have no stop shoulder 3'1bthereon. Rather, the portions of the top and bottom flanges 28 of thelatch body 27 between the rearward extension 31 and the end wall 29 havean inward or rearward extension 50 provided with outwardly and forwardlyinclined lugs 51 which extend outwardly into slots 52 in the top andbottom walls 22, 23 of the well member 16. These outwardly and forwardlyinclined lugs '51 are so located relative to the slots 52 that theirfree ends abut the edges of the slots 52 nearest the front plate 27 ofthe latch body to arrest forward pivotal movement of the latch body 27responsive to the spring 44 and stop the latch body at the normallatched position wherein its front plate 27' is substantially parallelto the plane of the valance wall 12a. Because of the inclined nature ofthe lugs 51, they may be flexed inwardly to a sufficient extent uponinward movement of the latch body 27 to the unlatching position topermit such unlatching movement of the latch body, or the slots 52' maybe elongated rearwardly to accommodate desired movement of the free endportions of the lug 51 through the unlatching rearward stroke of thelatch body 27.

By the construction hereinabove described, a considerably simplifiedlock construction for a hinged look of the recessed type has beenprovided, eliminating the need for a hinge pin and the operation ofinserting and heading such a hinge pin. The pivot forming lug 29a andslot 30, the tongue 35 and offset end 34a of the back plate 34, and thespring 44 greatly facilitate assembly of the latch and lock structureand provide a reliable and economically produced lock mechanism whichhas automatic opening and automatic closing properties. By providingcorresponding access slots 22', 23, in the top and bottom walls of thewell member and providing latch tongues 31a projecting rearwardly fromextensions on the upper and lower flanges 28, and using a symmetricalspring 45, the lock is made readily reversible so that it can serveinterchangeably on either side of the suitcase and eliminate therequirement of separate dies, separate parts and the cost of assemblyattendant to latches which can be used only on the right hand side orthe left hand side of a luggage case.

While but two specific embodiments of the latching device have beenparticularly shown and described, it is apparent that othermodifications may be made therein within the spirit and scope of theinvention.

What is claimed is:

1. A combined latch and lock structure adapted to be mounted on firstand second wall portions of separable sections of a container adjacent aline of separation therebetween, comprising a keeper to be aifixed tothe first wall portion having an apertured keeper loop projecting towardthe second wall portion, the second wall portion having an openingtherethrough bounded by interior and exterior surfaces, a latching uniton the second wall portion including a cup member formed from sheetmaterial having marginal flanges disposed in a common plane adapted tobe mounted flush against one of said surfaces and having a base panelportion spaced inwardly from said plane and top and bottom side wallsand end walls collectively defining an outwardly opening well alignedwith said opening in said wall portion extending inwardly from saidcommon plane and elongated along a major axis paralleling the plane ofseparation, said top wall having a keeper slot therein, an elongatedlatch member partially nested in said well and hinged adjacent a corresponding end of the well and latch member for pivotal movement betweena forward latching position and a rearwardly inclining release position,said latch member havin an outer surface of similar width and length tosaid well located substantially in the plane of said exterior surface ofthe second wall portion at the latching position of said latch member,said latch member including sheet metal means defining a top flangemember extending rearwardly of said outer surface and having a centralportion defining a rearwardly extending loop formation having a keeperopening therein inwardly adjacent said keeper slot, said loop formationof said top flange member including a forwardly projecting tongueextending into said keeper opening for interlocking with said keeperloop at said latching position when said container sections are inclosed condition, said cup member having an opening through a wallthereof spaced rearwardly from said common plane bounded by a shouldersurface facing rearwardly away from said common plane, and said topflange member including a formation defining stop shoulder meansextendable through said opening in said cup member and engageable withsaid shoulder surface of the cup member for arresting forward movementof the latch member at said latching position, and first spring meanscontinuously urging said latch member toward said forward latchingposition.

2. A latch and lock structure as defined in claim 1, including a secondspring in said well between said base anel portion and said outersurface having a flexibly displaceable leg inwardly adjacent said keeperslot and keeper opening to be flexed inwardly by engagement with thekeeper loop during entry of the latter through said slot and opening forstoring energy to resiliently eject the keeper from the well uponrelease of the keeper from the tongue during movement of the latchmember to release position.

3. A latch and lock structure as defined in claim 1, wherein a first endwall of said cup member adjacent the hinged end of said latch member hasa slot therein and said latch member includes an integral lug projectingin rearwardly spaced parallelism to said outer surface through said slotto form the hinge connection between said latch member and cup member.

4. A latch and lock structure as defined in claim 2, wherein a first endwall of said cup member adjacent the hinged end of said latch member hasa slot therein and said latch member includes an integral lug projectinin rearwardly spaced parallelism to said outer surface through said slotto form the hinge connection between said latch member and cup member.

5. A latch and lock structure as defined in claim 1, wherein each ofsaid top and bottom walls of said cup member have like keeper slotstherein, said latch member including an elongated latch body formed ofan integral sheet metal stamping having an outer rectangular paneldefining said outer surface and having a bottom flange memberparalleling said top flange member having a central portion defining arearwardly extending loop formation duplicating the loop formation ofthe top flange member and each having said keeper opening and tongueinwardly adjacent the respective keeper slots in said top and bottomwalls.

6. A latch and lock structure as defined in claim 5, including a secondspring in said well between said base panel portion and said outersurface having a pair of divergent flexibly displaceable legs inwardlyadjacent said keeper slots and keeper openings to be flexed inwardly byengagement with the keeper loop during entry of the latter througheither of said slots and openings for storing energy to resilientlyeject the keeper from the well upon release of the keeper from thetongue during movement of the latch member to release position.

7. A latch and lock structure as defined in claim 6, wherein a first endwall of said cup member adjacent the hinged end of said latch member hasa slot therein and said latch member includes an integral lug projectingin rearwardly spaced parallelism to said outer surface through said slotto form the hinge connection between said latch member and cup member.

8. A latch and lock structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said latchmember includes an elongated latch body formed of an integral sheetmetal stamping having a front rectangular panel defining said outersurface and rearwardly projecting top, bottom flanges at the perimeterthereof, said front panel having a first end flange disposed immediatelyadjacent one end wall of said cup member at the hinged end of the welland a second end flange adjacent the other end wall, a back plate havinga tongue at one end thereof interfittin with said second end flange ofthe latch member to selectively space the back plate rearwardly of saidfront panel and a forwardly offset end nearer said first end flangebearing against said front panel, and said first spring means comprisinga spring member compressed between said offset end of said back plateand said base panel portion of said cup member to resiliently restrainsaid offset end against said front panel and maintain said tongue onsaid back plate interfitted in said second end flange as well as urgingsaid latch member to said latching position.

9. A latch and lock structure as defined in claim 2, wherein said latchmember includes an elongated latch body formed of an integral sheetmetal stamping having a front rectangular panel defining said outersurface and rearwardly projecting top, bottom flanges at the perimeterthereof, said front panel having a first end flange disposed immediatelyadjacent one end wall of said cup member at the hinged end of the welland a second end flange adjacent the other end wall, a back plate havinga tongue at one end thereof interfitting with said second end flange ofthe latch member to selectively space the back plate rearwardly of saidfront panel and a forwardly offset end nearer said first end flangebearing against said front panel, and said first spring means comprisinga spring member compressed between said offset end of said back plateand said base panel portion of said cup member to resiliently restrainsaid offset end against said front panel and maintain said tongue onsaid back plate interfitted in said second end flange as well as urginsaid latch member to said latching position.

10. A latch and lock structure as defined in claim 3, wherein said latchmember includes an elongated latch body formed of an integral sheetmetal stamping having a front rectangular panel defining said outersurface and rearwardly projecting top, bottom flanges at the perimeterthereof, said front panel having a first end flange disposed immediatelyadjacent one end wall of said cup member at the hinged end of the welland a second end flange adjacent the other end wall, a back plate havinga tongue at one end thereof interfitting with said second end flange ofthe latch member to selectively space the back plate rearwardly of saidfront panel and a forwardly offset end nearer said first end flangebearing against said front panel, and said first spring means comprisinga spring member compressed between said offset end of said back plateand said base panel portion of said cup member to resiliently restrainsaid offset end against said front panel and maintain said tongue onsaid back plate interfitted in said second end flange as well as urgingsaid latch member to said latching position.

11. A latch and lock structure as defined in claim 1, wherein saidopening in said cup is an elongated slot in the center region of saidbase panel portion sized to accommodate movement of said loop formationtherein with the rearmost portion thereof continuously locatedrearwardly of said base panel portion, and said rearmost portion of saidloop formation including an extension forming said stop shoulder meansprojecting generally parallel to said major axis beyond an end to saidslot to abut the rear surface of said base panel adjacent the end ofsaid slot and thereby limit forward movement of said latch member.

12. A latch and lock structure as defined in claim 2, wherein saidopening in said cup is an elongated slot in the center region of saidbase panel portion sized to accommodate movement of said loop formationtherein with the rearmost portion thereof continuously locatedrearwardly of said base panel portion, and said rearmost portion of saidloop formation including an extension forming said stop shoulder meansprojecting generally parallel to said major axis beyond an end to saidslot to abut the rear surface of said base panel adjacent the end ofsaid slot and thereby limit forward movement of said latch member.

13. A latch and lock structure as defined in claim 1, wherein saidopening in said cup is a substantially rectangular opening in the topside wall thereof located near the end of the latch member opposite thehinged end thereof, and said stop shoulder means comprises a forwardlyand upwardly inclined lug bent from said top flange member and definingat its free edge a shoulder to resiliently extend into the rectangularopening and engage the outermost edge of the latter to thereby limitforward movement of said latch member.

14. A latch and lock structure as defined in claim 2, wherein saidopening in said cup is a substantially rectangular opening in the topside wall thereof located near the end of the latch member opposite thehinged end thereof, and said stop shoulder means comprises a forwardlyand upwardly inclined lug bent from said top flange member and definingat its free edge a shoulder to resiliently extend into the rectangularopening and engage the outermost edge of the latter to thereby limitforward movement of said latch member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,005,850 10/1911 Lau -662,599,105 6/1952 Green 292174X 3,100,980 8/1963 Humphries 707l 3,294,20612/1966 Gehrie 7070X 3,392,556 7/1968 Atkinson 7071 MARVIN A. CHAMPION,Primary Examiner E. J. MCCARTHY, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 7071

